Automatic spraying machines

ABSTRACT

Automatic machine for spraying shoe components. Comprises a stationary spray gun and a rotary table carrying a support for a component to be sprayed. Support is moved linearly across the table and the table turned in pre-set sequence so that the edge of the component is sprayed all round.

United States Patent [191 True [ Feb. 25, 1975 AUTOMATIC SPRAYINGMACHINES [75] Inventor: Ronald True, Leicester, England [73] Assignee:True Brothers Conveyors Ltd., Queniborough, Leicestershire,

England [22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 400,018

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 26, 1972 Great Britain44374/72 [52] U.S. Cl 118/6, 1 18/7, 118/319 [51] Int. Cl. B05c 5/00,BOSc ll/l4 [58] Field of Search 118/319, 320, 6, 7, 2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,954,2l0 4/l934 Jonesll8/3l9 2,249,205 7/l94l Hansen l18/320X 2,487,l ll l1/l949 DeKoning118/320 2,783,708 3/l957 Gox ll8/3l9 X 2,903,994 9/1959 l-lrubec...118/6 3,282,247 ll/l966 Ralphs ll8/3l9 X 3,379,173 4/l968 Szczepanskill8/319 X 3,390,660 7/l968 McDermott ll8/6 X Primary Examiner-RonaldFeldlbaum Attorney, Agent, or FirmLarson, Taylor & Hinds [57] ABSTRACTAutomatic machine for spraying shoe components. Comprises a stationaryspray gun and a rotary table carrying a support for a component to besprayed. Support is moved linearly across the table and the table turnedin pre-set sequence: so that the edge of the component is sprayed allround.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing; Figures PATENTEB FEBZ 51975 sum 3 OF 5 4'3 MIIllllllll PATENIEI] FEB 2 5 I975 sumsur5 AUTOMATIC SPRAYING MACHINESThis invention relates to automatic spraying machines in which acomponent to be sprayed is moved past a stationary spraying device. Theinvention finds 5 matic spraying machine, comprising a stationary sprayling device, a table which is turnable with respect to said device, asupport for a component to be sprayed, the support being carried by thetable for movement in a linear path across the same, and drive means forthe table and for the support, whereby, in use, a compol nent to besprayed can be moved past the spraying device linearly by movement ofthe support and in an arcuate path by turning the table.

In use, a component to be sprayed is placed on the support and themachine operated to move the component in the required path. It will beappreciated that by effecting linear and arcuate movement of thecomponent in appropriate sequence or simultaneously, the machine can beadapted to spray a wide range of different-shaped components. Moreover,the surface of the component being sprayed is maintained at a constantdistance from the spraying device, which makes for uniformity ofspraying.

When spraying the edges ofa shoe component for exthe table causes theother end edge to be sprayed. A

second spraying device may be brought into operation; to spray the treadsurface of the sole unit during one of the traverses of the supportacross the table. It will be appreciated that, by suitably modifying thesequence, platforms, foreparts etc., can also be sprayed.

Preferably the support is carried by a rod which projects upwardlythrough a diametral slot in the table and is connected, below thelatter, to a piston and cylinder unit carried by the table and arrangedto traverse the rod along the slot and so effect linear movement of thesupport.

The stroke of the piston and cylinder unit may be controlled by a camwhich moves with said support and a switch which is operated by the cam,the position of the switch being adjustable to vary the stroke of thepiston and cylinder unit and hence the extent of the linear movementofthe support. In this way, the machine can be adjusted for sprayingcomponents of different lengths.

Provision is preferably also made to adjust the speed of movement of thesupport so that the time for which a particular part ofa component issprayed can be varied. The speed of turning of the table may also beadjustable for the same reason.

To facilitate understanding of the invention and enable it to be readilycarried into practice, reference will now be made to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate one embodiment thereof, by way of example, andin which;

FIG. 1 is a front view of a sole unit spraying machine in accordancewith this embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line lll III of FIG. 2. looking from therear of the machine,

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line IV IV of FIG. 3, and,

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the pneumatic circuit of the machine.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 the machine basically comprises afloor-standing casing 1 presenting a flat upper surface on which ismounted a rotatable circular table 2 adapted to carry a sole unit to besprayed (as will be described). Mounted on the front side of the casingl is a frame 3 carrying a spray gun 4 of conventional form, the framebeing adjustable both heightwise and laterally to vary the position ofthe spray gun 4.

Table 2 is formed with a diametral slot 5 through which projects a rod 6connected by a screwthreaded coupling to a further co-axial rod 7carrying at its upper end a support 8 for a sole unit (designated S).The support comprises a pair of slotted slides 9 which are disposed withtheir side faces in sliding contact and are adapted to be locked in anadjusted position relative to one another by a pair of bolts 111)provided with wing nuts. This enables the length of the support to beadjusted to accommodate different-sized sole units. Each slide 9 has apair of upstanding pins 11 which engage and locate the face of the soleunit remote from its tread surface. A drip tray 12 is provided at thebottom of rod 7 to collect excess paint falling from the sole unit S inuse.

To prevent paint, (or other foreign material) falling through the slot 5in table 2, the slot is sealed by two spring steel strips 13 (see FIG.3), received in guideways along the sides of slot 5. Each strip isconnected at one end to the rod 7 and at its opposite end is received ina housing 14 on the table, being arranged in a coiled configuration inthe latter. In operation, rod 7 moves along slot 5 as will be described,the strips 13 respectively coiling up into uncoiling from their housings14 as the rod moves.

Reference will now be made more specifically to FIGS. 3 to 5 indescribing the driving mechanism of the machine.

The mechanism is designed to initially move the sole unit support 8 fromleft to right (FIGS. 1 and 2) along the slot 5 in table 2, starting fromthe position shown, whereby one side edge of the sole unit S will besprayed. On completion of this movement the mechanism rotates table 2through halfa revolution in the anti-clockwise direction so that thespray gun applies paint to the heel edge of the unit; this brings thecarrier 8 back to the starting position with the sole unit facing in theopposite direction. Next the carrier is again moved from left to rightalong the slot in table 2 so that the other side edge of the unit issprayed. Finally, the table performs a further half a revolution in theanticlockwise direction so that the toe edge of the unit is vision ismade in the machine for a second spray gun to be mounted on the lefthandend of the casing l to spray along the line of slot 5 and apply paint tothe tread surface of the unit.

Two pairs of snap connectors a, 1512 are provided in the front of casing1, each spray gun being plugged into one pair; only the pair 15a arebeing used in the illustrated embodiment.

The part of the mechanism for moving the rod 6 (and hence the sole unitcarrier 8) along slot 5 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and comprises aso-called Tol-o-matic" cable cylinder 16 mounted on the underside oftable 2. Cylinder 16 is an air cylinder having mounted therein a piston17 connected to a pair of cables 18. Each cable extends axially of thecylinder, travelling around a pulley 19 disposed adjacent the relevantend of the latter and is connected to rod 6 by way of a bracket 20. Itwill be appreciated that by applying air alternately to opposite ends ofcylinder 16 the piston is caused to reciprocate in the cylinder,carrying with it the rod 6. Rod 6 is guided during this movement on arod 21 mounted parallel to cylinder 16. Shaft 21 is hollow andperforated, the exhaust air (which contains oil droplets) from thepneumatic circuit of the machine being delivered into the shaft as canbe seen at its lefthand end in FIG. 3 for lubrication purposes.

Application of air pressure alternately to opposite ends of cylinder 16is controlled by valves in the pneumatic circuit of the machine as willbe described.

The stroke of the piston 17 in cylinder 16 is controlled by a valve Vwhich is visible in FIG. 3, being actuated by a cam 22 mounted on thelower end of rod 6. Valve V is mounted on a screwed spindle 23 and isslidable on a fixed guide rod 24. Spindle 23 carries a knurled knob 25at its outer end (see also FIGS. 1 and 2), turning of which moves thevalve V parallel to the y axis of cylinder 16 when in its rest positionso as to vary the position in which the valve is operated. A pointer 26cooperating with a fixed scale 27 is provided at the front of the casingof the machine (FIG. 1) to indicate the chosen stroke length.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 the Tol-o-matic cylinder 16 is mounted on theunderside of table 2 so as to turn with the latter; in fact the cylinderassembly carries the table. Thus, a bearing block 28 is secured to thebottom of cylinder 16 and mounted on a shaft 29 fixed in bearings 29a.

To permit the delivery of air to cylinder 16, pipework 30 connected torespectively opposite ends of the cylinder is also connected to bearingblock 28 and, via bores in the latter, to a rotary coupling assembly 31to which further, stationary pipework (not shown) is connected. Thecoupling is designed to allow transmission of air from the stationarypipework to the pipework 30 which rotates with the cylinder 16.

Rotary movement of the table2 is effected by means of a gear wheel 32connected to shaft 29. This gear wheel is driven by an air motor 33having a driving pinion 34 in mesh with its own teeth. The speed of airmotor 33 (and hence the speed at which the table turns), is controlledby a second screwed spindle 35 having a knurled knob 36 (visible inFIG. 1) which 0perates a conventional flow regulator valve 37 (FIG. 4)in the supply to the motor.

Gear wheel 32 also functions as a sequence controller for the pneumaticcircuit of the machine. Thus, as can be seen more particularly in FIG.4, a number of cams 38 are mounted on the upper surface of gear wheel 32to control valves V V, V in the pneumatic circuit.

Valve V is fixed as can be seen, but valves V and V are carried by abracket 39 which is pivoted at 40. The position of bracket 39 iscontrolled from the air motor speed control shaft 35 by way of a sleeve41 on that shaft connected by a linkage 42 to bracket 39. The purpose ofthis arrangement is to automatically adjust the positions of the valvesV and V in accordance with the motor speed in order to take account ofthe inertia of the system.

Referring finally to FIG. 5, this view shows diagrammatically theTol-o-matic cylinder 16, the gear wheel 32 and its driving air motor 33and spray gun I. A second spray gun is indicated in chain lines forconnection to the circuit by way of the associated pair of snapconnectors 15!). A four-position rotary switch 43 is provided to controlthe spray guns as will be explained. Incorporated in the circuit are thevalves V, V V and V referred to previously and a foot treadle-operatedmain control valve V The air supply to the circuit is along line SL.

In addition the circuit includes a number of air valves V to V, (some ofwhich are spring return and some air operated as shown), and the twonon-return valves NRV.

The operation of the circuit is as follows:

Operation of valve V has two effects. Firstly it delivers air to thespray gun I by way of valve V along line L. Secondly, by way of valves Vand V, a valve V associated with one end of the Tol-o-matic cylinder isoperated. A second similar valve V is associated with the other end ofcylinder 16.

It should at this stage be noted that the construction of the rotarycoupling 31 (visible in FIG. 3) is such that air delivered to cylinder16 through valve V always passes to the end of the cylinder which isshown at the left in FIG. 5 and air delivered by way of valve V alwaysgoes to the end of the cylinder shown at the right.

Operation of V therefore connects the righthand end of cylinder 16 toexhaust by way of a valve EV. This releases the piston 17 of cylinder 16for movement to the right under the action of the constant air pressuredelivered along line L from the supply SL to the lefthand end ofcylinder 16 via valve V". This moves piston 17 to the right until thecam 22 carried thereby operates valve V. The exhaust valve EV isadjustable, being controlled by a knob 44 (FIG. 1), to enable the speedof movement of piston 17 to be controlled.

Valve V, which is connected to supply line SL, then delivers air to avalve V, which is connected to supply line SL. then delivers air to avalve V, whereby the air motor 33 receives air from a separate airsupply line SL2 by way of speed control valve 37. This drives gear wheel32 in the anti-clockwise direction to turn the table 2. Simultaneously,valve V is operated to cut off the air supply to cylinder 16.

Gear wheel 32 continues to rotate until cams 38a, 38b and 38c operatethe valves V, V and V respectively. Operation of valve V connects theair supply line SL to valve V to return this valve to its originalposition and switch off the air supply to the motor. Valve V returnsvalve V to the position in which it is shown so that air is delivered tovalve V. As the cam 38a has operated valve V, it will at this time be inits righthand position and therefore deliver the air from V to valve VThis operates valve V to connect it to the exhaust valve EV and allowthe air pressure acting on valve V to move the piston 17.

It will be remembered that cylinder 16 has been turned end for end byrotation of gear wheel 32 so that piston 17 is back to the position inwhich it is shown in FIG. 5. Valve V is connected to the end of cylinder16 which is now at the lefthand side by virtue of the construction ofcoupling 31. Operation of valve V will therefore connect to exhaust theend of cylinder I6 which is at the righthand side and piston 17 willmove from left to right. When piston 17 reaches the end of its travel,valve V will be operated and the 180 rotation of gear wheel 32 (andhence table 2) will follow as described previously.

At the end of this movement of gear wheel 32, valves V and V will againbe operated by the further cams 38d and 38e respectively. V switches offthe air motor 33 as previously and V delivers air to V. Cam 38a is atthis time back in the starting position in which it is shown so valve Vadopts its left-biassed position. Air is therefore delivered by V alongline L3 to switch off the foot treadle-operated valve V and terminatethe cycle.

The cams 38b and 38e are arranged so that valve V is always operatedslightly before V This has two ef fects. Firstly, it ensures that theair pulse to operate air cylinder 16 begins before the air motor isswitched off, so that there is no pause in the movement of the sole unitsupport 8 at the end of the first half revolution of table 2, whichwould cause excess paint to be applied to the unit. Secondly the spraygun I is switched off slightly before the air motor at the end of themachine cycle, again to ensure that no excess paint is applied.

It will be noted that valve V referred to above is a manually operablevalve by which the spray gun I can be operated without activating theremainder of the circuit. Its operating button is indicated at 45 inFIG. 1.

The circuit also includes a push-button operated reset valve V (theoperating button being denoted 46 in FIG. 1) which is operated in theevent that table 2 is turned out of position for any reason. Operationof valve V connects supply line SL to valve V, which operates the airmotor 33 and causes the cycle of operation of the machine to beautomatically completed.

Rotary switch 43 is associated with two further valves V, V forcontrolling the second spray gun. The arrangement is such that, innormal operation with spray gun I only in use, the switch will be set inposition 1 or 3. If the switch is set to position 2, the second gun willspray until the end of the second operation of air cylinder 16. Thus,where a shoe platform or forepart is being sprayed, the gun will sprayboth side edges of the component and the toe edge.

With the switch in position 4, the gun will spray only during the firstactuation of air cylinder 16. This setting is intended for use with thesecond spray gun positioned at the lefthand end of the machine casing(FIG. I) in line with the slot in table 2 for the purpose of sprayingthe tread surface of a sole unit on carrier 8. I claim:

1. An automatic spraying machine comprising: a stationary sprayingdevice; a table which is turnable with respect to said device; a supportfor a component to be sprayed, the support being carried by a rod whichprojects upwardly through a diametral slot in the table, and isconnected, below the latter, to a piston and cylinder unit carried bythe table and. arranged to traverse the rod along the slot for movementof the support in a linear path across the table; and drive means forthe table and for the support, whereby, in use, a component to besprayed can be moved past the spraying. device linearly by movement ofthe support and in an arcuate path by turning the table.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the stroke of the piston andcylinder unit is controlled by a cam which moves with said support and aswitch which is operated by the cam, the position of the switch beingadjustable to vary the stroke of the piston and cylinder unit and hencethe extent of the linear movement of the support.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein means are provided to varythe speed of operation of the piston and cylinder unit in accordancewith the required speed of movement of the support across the table.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the slot in the table issealed by means of a pair of spring steel sealing strips each connectedat one end to the rod and at its opposite end being coiled in a housingadjacent the end of the slot, whereby each strip either uncoils from orcoils into its housing as the rod moves along the slot.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the support comprises a pairof slide members which can be adjusted with respect to one another tovary the size of the support to cater for different size components tobe sprayed.

6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the rod carries a drip traymounted below the support to receive excess paint or the like fallingfrom a component on the support.

7. A machine according to claim I, wherein the table is carried by arotary shaft and wherein the drive means for the table comprises a'gearwheel mounted on said shaft, and a motor having a driven pinion arrangedin mesh with the gear Wheel, the arcuate extent to which the table turnsbeing determined by cams mounted on said gear wheel and associatedstationary switches con nected in the power supply to the motor.

8. A machine according to claim 7, wherein the table is carried by saidrotary shaft through the intermediary of the piston and cylinder unit,the shaft being connected to the latter by way ofa rotary fluid couplingarranged to permit the supply of operating fluid to the piston andcylinder unit as the table turns.

9. A machine according to claim 7, wherein operation of the piston andcylinder unit is also controlled by cams on the gear wheel, whereby boththe linear and arcuate movements of the support are determined by thepositions of the cams in automatic sequence.

* l =l l

1. An automatic spraying machine comprising: a stationary sprayingdevice; a table which is turnable with respect to said device; a supportfor a component to be sprayed, the support being carried by a rod whichprojects upwardly through a diametral slot in the table, and isconnected, below the latter, to a piston and cylinder unit carried bythe table and arranged to traverse the rod along the slot for movementof the support in a linear path across the table; and drive means forthe table and for the support, whereby, in use, a component to besprayed can be moved past the spraying device linearly by movement ofthe support and in an arcuate path by turning the table.
 2. A machineaccording to claim 1, wherein the stroke of the piston and cylinder unitis controlled by a cam which moves with said support and a switch whichis operated by the cam, the position of the switch being adjustable tovary the stroke of the piston and cylinder unit and hence the extent ofthe linear movement of the support.
 3. A machine according to claim 1,wherein means are provided to vary the speed of operation of the pistonand cylinder unit in accordance with the required speed of movement ofthe support across the table.
 4. A machine according to claim 1, whereinthe slot in the table is sealed by means of a pair of spring steelsealing strips each connected at one end to The rod and at its oppositeend being coiled in a housing adjacent the end of the slot, whereby eachstrip either uncoils from or coils into its housing as the rod movesalong the slot.
 5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the supportcomprises a pair of slide members which can be adjusted with respect toone another to vary the size of the support to cater for different sizecomponents to be sprayed.
 6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein therod carries a drip tray mounted below the support to receive excesspaint or the like falling from a component on the support.
 7. A machineaccording to claim 1, wherein the table is carried by a rotary shaft andwherein the drive means for the table comprises a gear wheel mounted onsaid shaft, and a motor having a driven pinion arranged in mesh with thegear wheel, the arcuate extent to which the table turns being determinedby cams mounted on said gear wheel and associated stationary switchesconnected in the power supply to the motor.
 8. A machine according toclaim 7, wherein the table is carried by said rotary shaft through theintermediary of the piston and cylinder unit, the shaft being connectedto the latter by way of a rotary fluid coupling arranged to permit thesupply of operating fluid to the piston and cylinder unit as the tableturns.
 9. A machine according to claim 7, wherein operation of thepiston and cylinder unit is also controlled by cams on the gear wheel,whereby both the linear and arcuate movements of the support aredetermined by the positions of the cams in automatic sequence.